Schools Test New Analytics Tool for Blackboard

Several schools are piloting Blackboard's new learning analytics solution, Blackboard Analytics for Blackboard Learn, in an effort to provide feedback and help shape the final product.

Built on the Blackboard Analytics platform, the new product is designed to track usage patterns and data from both the learning management system and the student information system in an effort to improve student engagement and learning outcomes and assess online learning tools.

The institutions testing the tool include universities, four-year colleges, and two-year community colleges, all of which currently use Blackboard Learn 9.1. Pilot schools include:

Scheduled for public release in early 2012, the solution is designed to track and "present both course-specific and institution-wide data over time. The information would also help individual instructors better identify and help at-risk students at the course level, while enabling administrators to better understand the impact of online learning and justify expenditures and investments at the institutional level," according to information released by the company.

"For years, we've sought ways to understand student performance and course effectiveness in our online learning programs," said Kevin O'Halla, chief information officer at Grand Rapids Community College. "Blackboard Analytics for Blackboard Learn gives us greater insight, not just in a static semester-by-semester fashion, but over time, and in real time. While still in the trial, we're already seeing how Grand Rapids can make better decisions about our course delivery to help ensure student success through a tool that is easy for end user analysis."

According to information released by the company, Blackboard Analytics for Blackboard Learn will be capable of integrating with all leading student information platforms and customizable for integration with other solutions.